Bangladeshi diaspora
প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশী | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 7.5 million + (est.) | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2,116,192 (2022 census) |
| UAE | 1,089,917 (2013) |
| United Kingdom | 900,000 (2017) |
| Oman | 680,242 (2018) |
| Malaysia | 800,000 (2023) |
| Qatar | 400,000 (2019) |
| Kuwait | 350,000 (2020) |
| South Africa | 300,000 (2019) |
| United States | 350,000 (2024) |
| Lebanon | 160,000 (2020) |
| Bahrain | 150,000 (2020) |
| Jordan | 150,000 (2020) |
| Singapore | 150,000 (2020) |
| Italy | 150,000 - 400,000 (2025) |
| Canada | 120,000 |
| Maldives | 80,000 |
| Greece | 80,000 |
| Spain | 50,000 |
| Australia | 70,000 (2024) |
| Brunei | 30,000 |
| Portugal | 25,000 |
| Mauritius | 25,000 (2021) |
| Japan | 35,073 (2024) |
| South Korea | 22,000 (2020) |
| Libya | 20,000 (2019) |
| Germany | 20,000 (2020) |
| Brazil | 5,743 (2024) |
| Norway | 5,000 (2025) |
| Religion | |
| 67% follow Islam 21% follow Hinduism Minorities follow Christianity, Buddhism | |
Note: Populations under 20,000 are intentionally omitted. | |
The Bangladeshi diaspora (Bengali: প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশী) are people of Bangladeshi birth, descent or origin who live outside of Bangladesh. First-generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for various reasons including better living conditions, to escape poverty, to support their financial condition, or to send money back to families there. The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment estimates there are almost 7.5 million Bangladeshis living abroad, the fourth highest among the top 176 countries of origin for international migrants. Annual remittances transferred to Bangladesh were almost $23 billion in 2023, the seventh highest in the world and the third highest in South Asia.
The largest Bangladeshi diaspora population is in Saudi Arabia. There are also significant migrant communities in various Arab states of the Persian Gulf, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Oman, where Bangladeshis are mainly classified as foreign workers. The United Kingdom is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in Europe. British Bangladeshis are mainly concentrated in London boroughs such as (Tower Hamlets and Newham); the migration to Britain is mainly attributed with chain migration from the Sylhet Division. In addition to the UK and the Middle East, Bangladeshis also have a significant presence in the United States. Other countries where there are significant Bangladeshi communities include Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, Italy, Canada, and Australia. The majority of the Bangladeshi diaspora are Muslim, with a significant Hindu minority.
Bangladeshi diaspora movements and settlements abroad have divergent histories and challenges, with the diaspora in the Gulf Cooperation Council states focused on ensuring continuous labor migration flows and reducing labor-related abuses, while in the US and UK, a major challenge is the growing intergenerational divides.